Single spring push-button switch



Dec. 26, 1961 P. L. L. ALBERT SINGLE SPRING PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1959 Dec. 26, 1961 P. L. "L. ALBERT 3,015,005

SINGLE SPRING PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH Filed Oct. 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS fine. MW

Dec. 26, 1961 P. L.'ALBERT SINGLE SPRING PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 15, 1959 INVENTOR DZJuA/ Q'Z V 3,015,005 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 Free 3,015,005 SINGLE SPRING PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH Pierre Lucien Louis Albert, 6 Rue Paulin Enfert, Paris 13, France I Filed Oct. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 846,132 Claims priority, application France Oct. 14, 1958 Claims. (Cl. 20067) The present invention relates to a push-button switch.

In switches of this kind, the lever acting on the tumbling portion must in general follow, under the action of the push-button, a guiding incline directing it to the side to be tumbled. This results in a considerable overall travel for the push-button, the useful part of the travel providing for the actual tumbling being small. Moreover, the return travel of the push-button always necessitates a special spring, since the pressure exerted on the pushbutton is always transmited to the contact stud engaged by the actual resiliency of the tumbling member or by a spring appropriate to this effect.

The object of the present invention is to provide a switch free of these drawbacks, in other words a switch in which the travel of the push-button is reduced to a minimum and in which the spring adapted to actuate the tumbling portion directly is also used to raise the pushbutton to its initial position.

The switch in accordance with the invention is of the type comprising a frame; an electrically conductive contact tumbler, pivotable between two extreme positions, about a fixed axis relative to the frame and connected to an outer terminal, in at least one of which positions it is connected to another outer terminal; a push-button guided in the frame and movable substantially along the axis of the switch; and a spring located between the contact tumbler and the control member.

It is characterised in that the control member consists of a stirrup whose web is'able to oscillate about a fixed axis in the push-button perpendicular to the axis of the switch, each of the two side prongs of said stirrup having a portion thereof adjacent to the contact tumbler when said tumbler is in one of its two extreme positions, and pressing onto said tumbler to oscillate it about its axis when the operator presses on the push-button, appropriate means limiting the angular movement of said prongs, and in that the spring, which is of the compression type and whose axis is always in a straight line, is articulated on the tumbler in the medial plane and outside the axis of oscillation thereof and articulated on the control stirrup outside the fixed pivot axis thereof in the push-button, the tumbler being first oscillated under the action of the stirrup prongs when the operator presses on the pushbutton and abruptly finishing its oscillation from the moment when the pivot axis of the spring on the tumbler passes to the other side of the plane passing through the oscillation axis of the tumbler and the pivot axis of the spring on the stirrup, and the stirrup tumbling on its own when, the operator having ceased to press on the push-button, the pivot axis of the spring on the tumbler has passed to the opposite side of the tumbler axis with respect to the plane of the stirrup.

The spring, in the course of the same expansion, effects both the required switching and the raising of the pushbutton to its original position. The displacement of the latter is a minimum involving no idling time, this being a considerable advantage for a whole category of switches, the so-called wall switches, in which great importance is attached to obtaining a switch of the least possible thickness.

This result is achieved by means of a mechanism of extreme simplicity, in which the components are rethat is to say they Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clear on reading the following description of specific embodiments of the switch in accordance with the invention with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the switch, the tumbler not being shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken along the chaindotted line IIII of FIGURE 1, in which the proportions along the section line are not respected, the components being projected horizontally from FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section showing .the mechanism when the tumbler has just pivoted and prior to the pivoting of the stirrup, the tumbler not being shown in section;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the tumbler;

FIGURE 5 is a sketch showing the various positions of the mechanism in course of switching;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation of a second embodiment, the near side of the frame being removed;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the tumbler;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the control stirrup;

FIGURE 9a is a view similar to that of FIGURE 6, showing the mechanism before the operator stops pressing on the push-button;

FIGURE 9b is a view similar to FIGURE 9a showing the mechanism after the operator releases the pushbutton; and

FIGURE 10 is a view of the assembly comprising the push-button and the control stirrup in a third embodiment.

In FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, relative to the first embodiment of the invention, the switch comprises a frame 1, a push-button 2, a control stirrup 3, a spring 4 and a contact tumbler 5, this latter being necessarily formed from a conducting material.

The outer edge of the web of stirrup 3 is preferablycut in the form of a knife edge and is housed in corresponding grooved formed in the lower surface of pushbutton 2, so as to be capable of pivoting with respect to the latter about the axis 6 embodied by said knife edge. The compression spring 4 is secured and articulated at one end on the web of stirrup 3, as at 7, and at the other end, at 8, on spindle 9 carried by two plates 10 integral with tumbler 5.

The tumbler 5 is mounted on spindle 11, which is in turn in electrical contact with the input terminal 12. This tumbler is T-shaped, the two plates 10forming the leg of the T. Its displacement about spindle 11 is limited on either side by stops 12 and 13, themselves in electrical contact with the two output terminals 14 and 15.

The free ends of the prongs of stirrup 3, which are closely juxtaposed to the upper face of tumbler 5, are widened to enable them, on the one hand to be laterally guided against the inner walls of frame 1, and on the other hand to be slidable, parallel to the axis of movement of the push-button 2 and to the main axis of the switch along slides 16.

In order to simplify the figures, the armature of the compression spring 4 has been omitted therefrom. It can be of any known or on any other device.

The operation of the switch constructed in accordance with this embodiment is as follows, both FIGURE 3 and type and be articulated on studs 7 and 8' FIGURE 5, in which the essential elements are indicated by the same references as in FIGURE 1, contributing to a better understanding thereof:

When the operator presses with his linger on the pushbutton 2, the latter is gradually driven into the structure 1 and pushes the stirrup 3, the prong ends of which move along the slides 16, the oscillation axis 6 of said stirrup having a translation motion in a plane which includes the axis of the switch. The articulation point 7, as are the ends of the stirrup prongs, is also displaced in a translation motion with respect to the axis of the switch.

The free ends of the prongs of stirrup 3, while moving on the slides 16, come into contact with the tumbler 5, exert a pressure thereon and cause it to be rotated about its spindle 11, the spindle 9 carried by plates 16 of tumbler being rotated along circle 17 by an angle equal to that for the tumbler. Both ends of spring 4- approach each other and its compression increases.

From the moment when the pivot axes 7, 9 and 11 are in the same plane, which position is shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 5, if the operator continues to press on push-button 2, the axis 9 passes to the other side of the plane 7-11, into a position which is shown by clashes in FIGURE 5, and the action of spring 4 is such that the tumbler is abruptly pivoted about its spindle 11 to come to bear against stop 12. The switch mechanism then takes up the position shown in FIGURE 3, the pivot spindle 9 of spring 4 having passed to the other side of the prongs of stirrup 3. When the operator ceases to press on the push-button spring 4 expands and resets the push-button. At the same time, the pressure exerted by spring 4 on stirrup 3 through pivot spindle 9 is by now directed, with respect to the oscillation axis 6 of said stirrup, in a direction such that the latter is suddenly rocked about said axis 6 and takes up a symmetrical position on the other side of the switch axis. The whole mechanism is now ready for the next switching.

The second embodiment shown in FIGURES 6, 7, 8, 9a and 9b difiers from the previous embodiment in that:

The push-button lever 2a is pivoted about a spindle so supported by the frame 1a, but its angle of movement is sufficiently small and the center of rotation is sufficiently distant for the displacement of the oscillation axis 6a of stirrup 3a to be considered as a translation along the axis of the switch.

The prongs of stirrup 3a are extended in length, and each extended portion is provided with an outwardly directed notch 21, adapted to constitute a passage for the side edges of tumbler 5a. The notches 21 could equally well be inwardly directed.

The tumbler 5a, cut away in its interior and which can take up one or other of the two extreme positions determined by stops 12a and 13a, has an arm 22 left projecting from the tumbler body and bent, which acts as the mount for spring 4a. To this end, arm 22 carries a swivel 23 substantially plumb with the axis of rotation 11a of the tumbler and on which spring 4a is articulated.

The operation of the switch according to this second embodiment is as follows:

When the operator presses on the push-button 2a, the pivot axis 6a of stirrup 3a is depressed, substantially in a movement of translation.

The side walls 24 of grooves 21, initially immediately adjacent to the upper face of tumbler 5a, press on said tumbler, the prongs of stirrup 3a being guided, moreover, due to the fact that the bottoms 26 of grooves 21 are in contact with one of the side edges 27 of the inner opening in tumbler 5a. 1

As in the first embodiment, tumbler 5a begins to pivot gradually until, the articulation point 23 of the spring 4:: passing to the other side of the plane containing the articulation point 7a and the rotation spindle 11a of the tumbler, this tumbler ends up by pivoting sharply to occupy its other extreme position. The mechanism is then in the positionshownin FIGURE 9a, which can be 4 compared to the position in FIGURE 3. It is however to be noted that swivel 23 has remained on the same side of stirrup 3a.

When the operator ceases to press on push-button 2a, spring 4a expands. However, while expanding it pulls on tumbler 5a by means of side walls 28 of notches 21, said pull resulting in a gradual sliding of side walls 23 along the lower face of tumbler 5a in the direction of spindle 11 of said tumbler. This gradual sliding, which corresponds to a progressive oscillation of the stirrup 3a about axis 6a, stops when the articulation swivel 23 of spring 4a passes to the other side of stirrup 3a, and the oscillation of said stirrup is finished abruptly under the action of spring 4a in the position shown in FIG. 9b.

It will be seen that this embodiment offers, with respect to the first embodiment, the advantage of increasing the angular movement of stirrup 3a.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a third embodiment of the switch, in which the means at the operators disposal for effecting the translation of the stirrup axis towards the tumbler are of a special nature, the remainder of the mechanism being the same as in either of the first two embodiments hereinbefore described.

The push-button 2b is integral with the web of the stirrup 3b, and the rotation of said stirrup 3b about its axis 6b is brought about due to the fact that the lateral faces of push-button 2b in contact with frame 1b are bent, for example, following a cylinder of revolution the axis of which is exactly coincident with axis 6b.

On pressing push-button 2!), when the latter is associated with the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the said push'button penetrated into frame 1b (as in FIG. 3). Stirrup 32; moves along slides 16 (FIGS. 1-3) and rotates contact tumbler 5. On releasing push button 2b, the latter rotates in frame 1b about axis 6b under the influence oi the spring. If push-button 2b is used in conjunction with the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 6-9b, the operation is exactly the same as that described above in respect to the second embodiment, stirrup 3b, guided by notches 21 (FIG. 8), rotating contact tumbler 5a (FIGS. 6 and 9). Similarly, on releasing push-button 2b, the latter rotates in frame 1b about axis 6b under the influence of the spring.

It is to be understood that the present invention has just been described and illustrated merely by way of explanation without any intention of limitation, and that various modifications of detail can be made therein without falling outside its scope.

1 claim:

1. An electrical switch of the type comprising a frame, first and second fixed oppositely disposed stop members at least one of which is connected to an electrical terminal and a contact tumbler movable about a stationary axis supported in said frame to contact said first and second stop rnembers'altern-ately, said stationary axis being electrically connected to a further electrical terminal, turnbling means for actuatingsaid contact tumbler, said tumling means comprising push-button means acting in conjunction with said frame and adapted to be displaced substantially in a movement of translation along an axis erpendicular to said stationary axis of said contact tumbler, control means adapted to pivot about an axis located in the push-button means, a portion of said control means being located immediately adjacent to said contact tumbler, limiting means adapted to limit in a guiding manner the angular displacement of said control means and spring means of the compression type acting along a straight axis and located between a portion of said control means and said tumbler, said spring means being articulated to said tumbler in the medial plane passing through the oscillation axis of said tumbler, said articulation being effected ata point located outward and above said osciilation axis, and being articulated to said control means in the plane of saidcontrol means at a point located outward and below the axis about which said control means pivots in said push-button means; whereby, when actuated by finger pressure on said pushbutton means, said push-button means is displaceable in said frame to exert a pressure on said control means, the latter being guided by said limiting means, said pressure causing said con rol means to contact said tumbler thereby causing the latter to rotate about itsaxis, which rotation is abruptly accelerated when the articulation centre of said spring means located on said tumbler passes through the plane of said control means, said control means itself pivoting about its axis in said push-button means under the action of said spring means when the finger pressure to actuate said push-button means is removed.

2. The switch of claim 1, wherein said control means consists of a stirrup comp-rising a web, the outer edge of which is preferably cut to form a knife edge and is located in a groove formed in the lower surface of said pushbutton means.

3. The switch of claim 2, wherein said push-button means is adapted to rotate about a spindle journalled in said frame, whereby said groove is displaceable along the circumference of a cylinder of revolution centred at the axis of said spindle and whose radius is sufiiciently large with respect to the length of the are through which said groove is displaceable that said length of arc is virtually indistinguishable from a straight line between the limits of displacement of said groove and corresponds subs-tantially to a movement of translation along the axis of said switch.

4. The switch of claim 1, wherein said control means consists of a stirrup integral with said push-button means, and the outer surfaces of said push-button means in contact with said frame are so shaped that the assembly comprised by said push-button means and said stirrup is pivotable about a fixed axis in said assembly and displaceable.

in a movement of translation along a plane through the axis of said switch when actuated by finger pressure on said push-button.

5. The switch of claim 2, wherein said stirrup is openended at one extremity and said limiting means adapted to limit in a guiding manner the angular displacement of said stirrup consist of slides projecting from said frame and positioned parallel to the axis of said switch adapted to guide the extremities of said stirrups prongs at said open end.

6. The switch of claim 1, wherein said spring means consist of a compression spring acting along a straight axis, said spring being articulated on a mount integral with a spindle journalled in two plates upstanding from said contact tumbler and integral therewith, said two plates being parallel to each other and being both out at right angles by the medial plane of said tumbler passing through the axis of rotation thereof.

7. The switch of claim 2, wherein the prongs of said stirrup are each provided with a rectangular notch, and said tumbler is cut away in its interior, said limiting means being embodied by the corresponding portion of the edge of the cut away interior of said tumbler, having said stirrup prongs abutting thereon, and the pivoting of said tumbler produced by the contact between the upper side wall of each said notch and the adjacent side of said tumbler when said push-button means is actuated by finger pressure.

8. The switch of 7, wherein an arm is left projecting from the interior portion of said tumbler, being subsequently bent to support said spring means point of articulation on said tumbler in the medial plane of said tumbler.

9. The switch of claim 7, wherein said upper side wall of said notch in each prong of said stirrup being in contact with said tumbler in either one of its extreme positions due to the action of finger pressure on said pushbutton means, the point of articulation of said spring means on the member integral with said tumbler is located on the same side of said stirrup as the axis of said switch, whereby said spring means, while expanding on release of finger pressure on said push-button means, pulls said tumbler by means of the inner side wall of said notch in each of said stir-rugs prongs, thereby causing said stirrup to be gradually pivoted in combination with a sliding motion of said side wall of each said notch along the inner face of said tumbler towards the axis of said tumbler, said pivoting becoming rapid only when the point of articulation of said spring means on said tumbler has passed to the other side of the plane of said stirrup.

10. The switch of claim 8, wherein said upperside wall of said notch in each prong of said stirrup being in contact with said tumbler in either one of its extreme posi tions due to the action of finger pressure on said pushbutton means, the point of articulation of said spring means on the member integral with said tumbler is located on the ea c side of said stirrup as the axis of said switch, whereby said spring means, while expanding on release of finger pressure on said push-button means, pulls said tumbler by means of the inner side wall of said notch in each of said stirrups prongs, thereby causing said stirrup to be gradually pivoted in combination with a sliding motion of said side wall of each said notch along the inner face of said tumbler towards the axis of said tumbler, said pivoting becoming rapid only when the point of articulation of said spring means on said tumbler has passed to the other side of the plane of said stirrup.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,810,031 Helstrom Oct. 15, 1951 

